Julian was a formidable athlete, breaking and holding British triathlon records back in the 1990s, and forging a path for British athletes at Ironman Hawaii.
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“He was not just a formidable cyclist but an all round swimmer, cyclist and runner and always had a smile and time to talk before or after he’d raced. I will miss him” says Mark Kleanthous, another stalwart of the UK tri scene.
Alongside his successful property developing, Julian was also instrumental in the creation of the Southampton Tri Club, with his amusing, insightful and colourful columns for 220 during the nineties entertaining our readers for many seasons. Below are some of Julian’s first words for 220 back in 1989, where he details his newfound love of multisport.
‘The 1989 Swindon Biathlon was my first-ever duathlon after my first season in triathlon. I remember spotting Richard Hobson who was the “star” and thinking he was twice my size and appeared to have all the kit. I rode in trainers. I recall an indoor transition and quite a buzz about the place. Coming from cross country running this felt like the big time; people watching and prizes!
‘I was completely unknown and ran with Hobbo. I beat him out of transition because of my trainers. I think it was an out and back course and I got caught on the way home, a few other runner types were quickly over hauled; a very young Julian Bunn and this guy called [Mike] Trees who had run a 4min mile or nearly. Hobbo led off bike and I took second. It was a massive surprise to me and everybody there. I loved it.
‘Why did I love it? Atmosphere, Exciting, Buzz, Cool. I was young cocky student and the girls and beer and everything was perfect. I did number two at Leicester meeting Dave Bellingham – mad as a hatter. I had almost learned to cycle and won the race from Steve Meads. Never won much at running, got the bug now, found something that I was half decent at.’
And half decent at multisport Julian would prove to be. He’d go on to win the UK Iron-distance classic The Longest Day on numerous occasions, and would hold the British Iron-distance record for 13 years after his 8:15:21 finish at 1995’s European Iron-Distance Championships in Detern. A year later, he recorded the then fastest British time at Ironman Hawaii after a 8:54:53 minute finish on the lava fields of Kona.
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Look out for more tributes to Julian later this week. 220’s thoughts are with his wife, family, friends and the countless athletes he inspired in triathlon.
With a fairly low alcohol content of 3.6%, each 330ml bottle is said to boast 33% fewer calories (92.4) than a regular brew, 85% fewer carbs (1.65g) and 95% more protein, with a bumper 21.8g per bottle. So, most importantly, how does it taste?
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BrewDog’s Dead Pony Club, Moor Beer Co’s Revival, Bath Ales Spa and a handful of others aside, we rarely trust beers of a sub-4% alcohol content, reminding us of that mild stuff they drink in the West Midlands and Manchester or barbecue lagers like Carling.
Like BrewDog and co., Barbell Brew does have plenty of taste. This provides plenty of hoppyness yet tastes decidedly – and disconcertingly – sweet (said by Muscle Food to derive from the added protein), putting it closer to a fruit beer (or a glass of squash) than hoppy classics like Sierra Nevada Pale.
At £15.95 for a six pack it certainly doesn’t come cheap either, with the £2.65 per bottle tag putting it above many top-end independent brews on the market.
For us personally, a beer is a reward. We’d rather have a bottle of something we enjoy and cherish, instead of thinking about amino acids and how much protein we need. So bring us a Beavertown any day, and a bowl of cashews and beef jerky to provide the amino acid hit.
But if you’re serious at cutting the carbs, compared to the ‘lite’ (i.e. weak and devoid of taste) beers from Coors, Miller and Michelob, you could do worse in the taste test then Barbell Brew.
For the first time ever four branches of multisport are coming together in one world championship, the ITU Multisport World Championship Festival, which will take place August 18-27 2017 in Penticton, British Columbia.
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The 10-day event will see 5,000 athletes compete in four separate World Championships – duathlon, aquathlon, cross triathlon & long distance triathlon.
“For the first time, athletes can compete in more than one multisport world championship race in one convenient location, which is an idea we’ve had a great response to, both from cities and from age group athletes,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado.
“Penticton will set the stage for the future of the event. We are very confident in the team’s ability to deliver an exceptional experience that will set the bar of this festival very high.”
All four competitions will start and finish in the heart of Penticton, with the epicentre being along the beachfront of Okanagan Lake and Okanagan Lake Park. The spectator friendly courses will feature a variety of terrain and include some of the area’s many vistas, wineries and landmarks, as well the downtown area, with a stadium finish at each race.
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And as well as the races there will be plenty to keep the crowds entertained with concerts, street dance, parade of nations, kids races and awards presentations.
A sweat monitor that can continuously check multiple biochemicals in sweat has been developed by scientists could offer great benefits to triathletes, particularly long-distance athletes competing in hot climates.
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For in the future athletes could potentially be able to wear devices that would alert them to health problems such as fatigue, dehydration and dangerously high body temperatures.
>>> Sweat testing for athletes: is it worth it?
“Human sweat contains physiologically rich information, thus making it an attractive body fluid for non-invasive wearable sensors,” said co-author Ali Javey, of University of California, Berkeley.
“However, sweat is complex and it is necessary to measure multiple targets to extract meaningful information about your state of health. In this regard, we have developed a fully integrated system that simultaneously and selectively measures multiple sweat analytes, and wirelessly transmits the processed data to a smartphone. Our work presents a technology platform for sweat-based health monitors.”
Javey and his team consulted exercise physiologist George Brooks, a UC Berkeley professor of integrative biology.
“Having a wearable sweat sensor is really incredible because the metabolites and electrolytes measured by the Javey device are vitally important for the health and well-being of an individual,” said Brooks.
The prototype developed by Javey and his research team packs five sensors onto a flexible circuit board. The sensors measure the metabolites glucose and lactate, the electrolytes sodium and potassium, and skin temperature.
“The integrated system allows us to use the measured skin temperature to calibrate and adjust the readings of other sensors in real time,” said Gao. “This is important because the response of glucose and lactate sensors can be greatly influenced by temperature.”
The researchers developed an app to sync the data from the sensors to mobile phones, and fitted the device onto “smart” wristbands and headbands.
“We can easily shrink this device by integrating all the circuit functionalities into a single chip,” said co-author Sam Emaminejad.
“The number of biochemicals we target can also be ramped up so we can measure a lot of things at once. That makes large-scale clinical studies possible, which will help us better understand athletic performance and physiological
You can get your sweat analysed at the National Triathlon Show (April 8-10) with Precision Hydration
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Key facts: hydration
Heat training: What are benefits of using a heated-room for training? Mirinda Carfrae on coping with the heat in long-distance triathlons
James Beckinsale M.Sc, a BTF L3 High Performance Coach, has published his first book, The Triathlon Training Book.
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Published by DK and priced £12.99 it covers all aspects of triathlon training from how to get faster, stronger and smarter to nutrition and choosing the right kit and equipment that will help you reach your goals.
The layout is easy to use and follow, with clear illustrations – it should be a useful addition to ay athlete’s library, beginner or experienced, for every distance from sprint to Iron.
James is the founder of Optima Racing Team in London and has been training novice and elite athletes for 17 years, and has coached age-group triathletes to medal at World, European, and Ironman competitions. His website is www.optimaracingteam.com.
We have three of these books to giveaway and to be in with a chance of receiving one just tweet us @220Triathlon with the hashtag #giveaway and we will pick three people at random on Tuesday 28 March2016 (you need to be aged 18 and a UK resident).T&Cs apply, see below.
Terms and conditions:Promoter: Immediate Media Company London Limited. The giveaway is open from 21-28 March 2016 and is open to UK residents aged 18 or over only – England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but not employees of the Promoter. One entry per person only. For a chance to win, follow the instructions above. Winners will be contacted by 5pm on 29 March 2016 via Twitter. Winners will have 2 days to send an email/Twitter message to claim their prize. If you do not contact us within this time we may offer the prize to another entrant. Entrants’ details will be used in accordance with Immediate’s Privacy Policy: http://www.immediate.co.uk/privacy-policy/. To find out who has won, please send an email to [email protected]within 2 months of the close of the competition.
Five pence from each pot sold will be donated directly to the initiative, which works to give children in the UK a positive and fun sporting experience and to encourage regular activity in the great outdoors – core values that directly reflect those of The Collective.
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Alistair and Jonny each selected their favourite fruit to create the yogurt. At the top of each tub is Alistair’s ‘Brownlee apple’ compote, made from British bramley apples, flavoured with cinnamon and nutmeg,while underneath sits Jonny’s blackberry compote. The yogurt is only 5% fat, and suitable for vegetarians and gluten-free diets.
Alistair and Jonny Brownlee said: “We are so excited to have created this delicious limited edition that features our favourite flavours – Bramley apple and British blackberries.
“The Collective has the same vision as us to encourage children in the UK to become more active and appreciate their surroundings. We are delighted that the sales of this yoghurt will help to raise money for the Brownlee Foundation, funding sporting triathlon events that are designed to motivate children and families to embrace exercise in a fun and enjoyable way.”
Through teaming up with the Brownlee brothers, and sales of the Limited Edition, The Collective will be raising money to help run five Foundation Days in Yorkshire in June 2016. Throughout the events, kids will swim, cycle and run and will be congratulated with a medal and a Suckies pouch.
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The yoghurt will be available nationwide at Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Whole Foods Market, Booths, Asda and Nisa, priced £2 for a 450g pot.
When I was 14 I was given my first triathlon magazine in a Christmas stocking.
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The centre page spread was an article on Julian Jenkinson, the only professional triathlete in the U.K. (according to the tax man). Jules had one foot on a gallon drum of sports drink and was holding onto a yellow Peugeot bike; a pair of Bloc sunglasses perched on his head and he wore a Speedo one piece. Julian made triathlon look cool; he made me want to be a triathlete. Julian had written the article himself and I later discovered his monthly 220 columns. Julian wasn’t the only person trying to be a professional triathlete; he was the only person smart enough to make it work.
In my first year at University I went with the squad on a training camp to Tenerife; Jules came along, this might have had a lot to do with the PHD student who all the boys fancied and of course, who he was seeing. Chris Volley couldn’t believe Julian Jenkinson was there, he added to the legend by telling us he had refused to ever let his parents clean their toilet seat again after Jules had visited his Isle of Wight bathroom.
I was too star-struck to know what to say to Jules. I was the annoying kid who smashed the start of the reps, desperate to keep up. I got in everyones’ way before blowing my doors off. I was the idiot who I dread turning up to a session these days. I ran reps clipping Jules’ feet and trying to cut up his inside on the corners. He could not have been nicer.
Jules would head out on the bike with us and add on a loop of the island to come back with a 100 miles for the day. He showed me the climb up the volcano. I was dragged to the bottom of the mountain at a pace that left me seeing stars; he said he’d meet me at the top. Half way up I had completely bonked and was lying at the side of the road trying to drink from a spring and licking a banana skin in the hope of finding an extra carbohydrate or two. Jules span back down with a grin on his face to pick me up.
Jules would visit Bath regularly. I remember him turning up for a murder mystery party as a rowing toff, complete with flannels, a panama hat, a waxed and pointed moustache and a 7ft oar in his hand. He was the only one who guessed who the killer was.
Julian seemed to have time for me; he was the British Ironman Record holder and a regular captain of the British team. He still is, I believe, the only person to have represented his country at elite level in Duathlon, Sprint, Olympic and Long distance triathlon. I wasn’t particularly talented but he went out of his way to look at my cleat position, to tell me to raise my saddle, to bang me on the head when bounced up and down on the bike. I remember him sitting on a wall for at least an hour one summer evening answering the questions of an over enthusiastic kid who didn’t have a clue how to train or how to get by in the sport. Jules knew it all, but he didn’t preach at me. I was buzzing around him like an annoying fly but he didn’t make me feel like that. It turns out Jules did this for many young athletes.
I saw Jules at Chris Volley’s wedding a few years later; I had been to train with a pro squad abroad, I’d been sent home by the coach. I wasn’t good enough to make the grade. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was skint and wasn’t making any money. I thought the athlete dream was over and I was scared of the real world. Jules chatted to me, a few days later I got a message saying he had a job that would let me train if I wanted it.
Julian was clever, funny, down to earth and an incredible athlete. He was, at one stage, the most important figure in the development of triathlon in this country, but unlike many others who simply weren’t as good as him, he didn’t hang about when injury put a stop to his career, he went on to other things and to be an incredible success at those.
I’m sad Jules has gone and although he wouldn’t have cared, I’m sad triathlon didn’t realise quite how much we owed him.
The great and the good of the triathlon world will be descending on a venue in London in just a few days’ time for the star-studded event that is the annual 220 Triathlon Awards. What’s more, tickets are now on general sale, so if your triathlon club fancy a night to remember, you have the chance to join us!
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The awards will be held on Saturday 9th April at Stratford Old Town Hall and will celebrate the very best of our sport. With 300 athletes, coaches and industry names attending, as well as the 220 Triathlon team, you’ll have the chance to mix with many familiar (and new!) faces from triathlon.
The evening includes a drinks reception, three-course dinner and fantastic entertainment including an inspirational talk from Olympian Derek Redmond. You’ll also have the chance to see the winners announced live as they take to the stage to receive their awards from Derek Redmond and 220 Editor Helen Webster.
Tickets are priced at £75 each, but we’re offering triathlon clubs the chance to reserve a table of 10 for just £500. Availability is on a strict first-come first-served basis, so don’t miss out!
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Email [email protected] to find out more and to reserve your tickets.
American triathlete Gwen Jorgensen continued her dominating winning streak with a win at the 2016 ITU World Cup in New Plymouth, with Kiwi triathlete Andrea Hewitt coming second and Kirsten Kasper (USA) coming third.
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“I have been in New Plymouth for a couple weeks now because my coach is originally from here and it has been great, the community has been so welcoming. I have loved being here,” Jorgensen said.
“I came here, there was a lot of good and tough athletes, a lot of fast swimmers so it was a good test. We were really pushing it on the swim, the bike and the run, so it was a really hard race. Next week I will start my WTS debut I guess for 2016 in Gold Coast, but the sole focus for me in August 20th, the Rio Olympics, so all of this has just been kind of training for that.”
South Africa’s Marie Rabie, Gwen Jorgensen (USA) AND Carolina Routier (ESP) led the 750m swim and a front pack of 22 led the tight, technical 20km bike course.
The front pack worked well to consolidate the break over the chasing group and after the second lap was out to 35sec. On the final 5km of the bike it was clear the winners would come from the front group with Hewitt at the head along with Rabie, Routier, Emma Jeffcoat (AUS) and Jorgensen keeping the pace high.
Jorgensen dismounted from the bike in 13th place but made short work of the run to get to the front where she battled with Hewitt for victory.
How to run like Gwen Jorgensen
“I did not know what to expect today, this was my first race of the season for me,” said Hewitt. “My training has gone really well and I came here wanting a good result. I was pleased that Gwen was racing; we had a good battle out there, especially on the first lap of the run.
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“I started on the left on the swim and I tried to stay on Carolina Routier’s feet, but it didn’t happen because I was just in the back of the front group getting on the bike. But I felt really strong today; we worked really hard on the bike to stay away from that second group.”
Horton celebrated victory after completing the sprint distance course in 54:16 to finish 10 seconds clear of Calum Johnson in 54:26, while former Commonwealth Games representative, Liam Lloyd, clocked 54:35 to take the final podium spot.
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Horton said: “Being crowned national champion feels really good, it’s taken a while to become a senior champion but it’s a big relief to finally win this event. I knew that there would be some strong boys racing today such as Calum Johnson and Liam Lloyd, along with a number of others, but a group of seven of us got away on the bike and we worked together really well.
“The course was really cool, it was challenging but a really interesting venue compared to previous National Duathlon Championships.”
>>> First ever Windsor Duathlon route revealed
In the women’s event, reigning ITU Duathlon World Champion, Emma Pallant, won for for the third year in succession in a time of 1:02:57, over a minute clear of former Olympian and Pallant’s coach, Michelle Dillon who finished in 1:04:02. Gillian Palmer took bronze in 1:04:14.
Pallant said: “It was a great experience to be racing with my coach (Michelle Dillon), I had fun out on the course and the event went really well. This year I’m aiming to defend my World Duathlon Championship title as well as having a go at 70.3 racing. I’ve got a huge amount to learn, having never time-trialled before but I’m really excited about getting a year of experience in.”
In the British Elite Paraduathlon Championships, Bret Crossley (PT1) was the first across the line, finishing the race in 1:04:30 to fend off Mark Conway, who finished in second. Lizzie Tench picked up the women’s PT1 honours.
Tench said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to bits with the win today. Having just found out that PT1 racing will be involved in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, it’s a real goal to aim for and races like this are great to prepare. I really enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful park. A tough course, but I enjoyed it.”
PT4 athlete, Chris Frost, won his category, as did Faye McClelland (PT4) in the women’s race; pipping Ruth Wilson to the post.
McClelland said: “It was a really tough race today, I had Ruth (Wilson) by my side the whole way which kept me on my toes. The bike was undulating, so that was quite challenging, but all in all it was really good.”
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Windsor Duathlon to host five British Championship titles
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